| Citation |
NHG-P.764.051
7 Dec 1764:11,12 (426)
London, September 1. As the following melancholy account
taken from yesterday's Daily Advertiser, of the truly
distressed situation of the poor Palatines, come over here
in order to be shipped off to new acquired settlements, has
something in it so very affecting, we have inserted it as
much on the behalf of these unhappy people, as for the
information of our readers of their deplorable necessity.
To the Printer.
I hope you will permit me, by means of your paper, to inform
those who have the power to redress it, of the very
deplorable situation of the poor, unhappy Palatines, lately
arrived here from Germany. They are in number, men, women,
and children, about six hundred, consisting of Wurtzburghers
and Palantines, all Protestants, and were brought hither
from their native country by a German officer, with a
promise of being immediately sent to settle at his own
expence, in the island of St. John and St. Croix, in
America; but, by inability, he has been obliged to decline
the undertaking; so, that instead of their being shipped
off for those places, some of them have lain, during the
late heavy rains, and are now lying in the open fields
adjacent to this metropolis, without covering, without
money, and, in short without the common necessaries of this
life; others lie languishing under the complicated evils of
sickness and extreme want, at the Statue Hall, in Goodman's
Fields; and more than two hundred remain on board the ship
which brought them over, on account of their passage not
being paid for, where they are perishing for food, and
rotting in filth and nastiness.
. . . [44 lines, describing their distress, 73 lines,
describing successful efforts relieve their situation]
Prayers are said, hymns are sung, and a sermon preached
every day about 4 or 5 o'clock in the afternoon to these
poor distressed people, in their little camp in the Mulberry
garden, behind White chapel church; and they appear to be
very sincere and devout in their way of worship.
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